Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

Debbie, pass along to your son our CONGRATULATIONS! That is definitely reason to be proud.

Kate, Welcome to the group! My son just classed up this week. He said that he is tired! They wake up early, but, since he's not a morning person, anything before noon is early!! lol.
He graduated A school in Feb. While on hold they will work in the hospital. My son worked in the urology dept. in the morning and had PT in the afternoon.
My son loves the weather in San Diego! When he left GL, there was still snow. Being from Texas, he was ready to get out of all the cold and snow and go to sunny southern California!
Again, if you have any questions, there are a lot of knowledgeable moms here!

Margaret, your son sounds a lot like mine. Having grown up in AL, this past winter in GL for Corpsman school about killed him with snow shoveling and the cold. He too likes the San Diego weather, although he's already gotten sun burn since he arrived a week ago. I'm sure he misses sleeping until noon as well.

Laurence always said he wanted to move to a cold climate. Then while in GL, all he did was say over and over again how cold it was. I told him to be careful what he wishes for! lol His first duty station after FMTB will be in New Orleans, so he will be out of the cold, and closer to home!

My son's duty station is back to the clinic at GL...he wasn't overly excited!!!

Oh how exciting! At least he won't be a student or a recruit and will hopefully be able to enjoy he sites more.

I need to remind Laurence. Even though he is use to being in the sun and heat, he burns easily.
Thanks Gloria for the reminder!

Laurence said that test one is tomorrow. (Monday).

Good luck to all taking test one today!
I look forward to hearing the postings!

Cub passed the test and is phase 3 so he can get off base now. Hope everyone's cub's did well.

Laurence did the same! He was excited last night! He excited to change into civies and go off base to eat!
I hope all did well. Next test is next Wednesday.

I was told that the platoons have a competition today. I wasn't sure what all they are doing. I asked if it was anything like Captain's Cup, and was told, "sort of". I guess I will find out details tonight.

Heard 1st Platoon won the competition...don't know the details though.

I wasn't given much details, so I figured Laurence didn't do too well. He was excited about being off for the weekend.

I have not talked to Laurence in two days! I guess they have long days! I found out this morning he calls his sister. (she's young and stays up later than me) She told me that he is having a blast! They are carrying guys off the field with bombs going off. As long as they are fake, I won't worry. I know this is what he has been waiting for! (not me!!!) I'm hoping to be able to talk to him soon. I don't like not being able to talk!

I want to say that Laurence said that he is in Platoon II. I need to ask.
Thanks for the address!
I need to train Laurence to text me on days he is up late. There's a two hour time difference here as well. I start to shut down around 9:00pm, which is 7:00 there.
All Laurence talked about in A school was how boring it was. Now he seems excited! I can't wait to talk to him again.Laurence may be tall, but he has such a soft gentle voice. I miss his laugh. Oh, all this mush and only two days of not talking to him! I think I need a life! lol

Hi Lori, the following site will have a lot of info. for you:

http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/fmtbwest/FMSTCourse.htm

Cub passed Block 2 test...hope the rest of our cubs passed as well! Cub said he's been shot at and covered in blood, so I think that they're doing okay! :-)

vettespace, I have not heard from Laurence in three days! He did call his sister one night. It was late and I had already gone to sleep. He told her how excited he was and how he was enjoying this more than anything else he has been doing since he left last Aug.
Lori, everyone so far is correct. While on hold, he will work part time in the hospital and start to PT Marine style. One while on hold, Laurence had to spend three days out in the wilderness as target practice the the corpsmen in FMTB. He liked it. They slept out under the stars at night and were shot at during the day!

Hi Margaret, I think that they're going to be out in the field next week. They'll also be firing live rounds with the M4's so I think that they'll like that as well. Not sure when the Block 3 test is...we'll have to find that out.

Thanks, vettespace. This week, I seem to find out more here than from Laurence. I keep trying. The main problem is the time difference.
As for the life fire, I know he will enjoy that!

Laurence responded to a post on facebook and told me that he hasn't called because he knows I go to sleep early, and not to worry, he hasn't been killed yet! lol. I guess that means he has been successful in carrying all the Marines off the battle field.

Jacqueline, I haven't figured it out yet. So far, I know my son has passed one, but taken two. The second one was taken this week, but I haven't heard from him since Monday. From what I gather, he must be out in the field.

Hi Jacqueline, they'll have 5 written Block Tests and they have to score 80% or better to pass. They also have to pass the PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) near the start. And, they'll have hikes of 4, 6, 7, & 8 miles that they'll have to successfully complete.

I finally talked to Laurence!!!! He said that they have been busy. It sounded so good to hear his voice. I just have to remember that he is busy. It is almost like BC all over again!!! He said that they are still spending a lot of time in the class, but this week, they get to do the gas chamber! He loived that in BC!
Thanks for the address info, mom4sons! I asked Laurence to email me his full mailing address, but I think I have everything from here.
Thanks everyone!

It sounds like we are all hearing the same thing. It felt so good to hear Laurence's voice! I now know that I can't talk every day for now. I guess weekends will have to do.
Thanks for the heads up about food. I will tell him he has to share.

Dawn, Your son is in for an adventure of a life time! Once FMTB starts, he will have little free time, but will be too busy and the time will go by fast!

I want to give everyone a heads up. Laurence called last night to let me know that they are going to the field today and will spend three days there. He wanted to let me know so I won't worry. He won't be available until Friday.
He also said that he passed test three and test four is this Monday.

I understand. When Laurence told me, I told him I would have to post so other moms and dads won't worry. He understood. After close to 18 months that I've been here, they have excepted that I am here sharing and learning.
I also love the close bond we have built. I couldn't make it without everyone here!

Laurence is heading for New Orleans! It was not his first choice, but it will be close to home (Dallas) I have been reading about it, and from what I can see, it is a joint reserve base. Other than that, I will just have to wait and see. He is to report there on June 23. That won't give him but maybe a day or two if that after FMTB!

Donna, Laurence called me to tell me the same thing. The had a test and then out into the field. The hard part will be having to wait until Friday to know how he did on his test! It was test four and was about nuclear warfare and test five will be next Monday. Laurence said that he had fun last week and is looking forward to this week.

Laurence was born to be in the dirt and mud. I don't think I have one picture of him when he was clean! lol He went on and on about how much fun he had. He even posted on facebook about what fun he had and that he gets paid to play in the mud!
Wade, I like your new profile picture!

From what I understand it is scheduled for June 18.

I mailed Laurence's box on Friday. I was told that it will be there on Monday. I put a box of cookies in there for Steven. Laurence said that their racks are close to each other. I wrote Happy Birthday on the box and the post office stamped perishable, so maybe it will get there before the chocolate melts! lol

Happy 19th Birthday to Steven and Laurence!!!!
Good luck to all on test five.

Test five is now out of the way!!!! Laurence passed! Now on to the field for more training and then graduation!

The cubs attending the current FMST class at Pendleton are in the home stretch with only three weeks to go! Looks like the weather out there is starting to get a little warmer than it's been.

I guess all our boys are excited about the weekend! Laurence was excited about the 96 hour liberty, but said he wasn't excited about duty on Saturday. Now back to practice in the morning!

Dawn, if your son has not yet started, than he might be out in the field to help out those who are in their final week o training. My son did that while he was waiting. The ones who are waiting are used for target practice. From the way my son explained it, it sounded almost like a bunch of guys playing with paint ball guns in the woods. I know there is more to it, but I was told that it was hard, but fun. They eat and sleep out under the stars.
If you haven't yet, look up FMTB Training on youtube. You can get a better idea of what our boys are doing.

Don't quote me on the paint ball guns, but they do shot at each other, but with what I can't remember. I do remember that when Laurence did it while he has waiting, he was "killed" He did say that he enjoyed it! I told people that he went out for target practice and he was the target!
Here's to Friday when we can all talk to our sailors!!!!

I know that Laurence is excited. Like so many others, Laurence has been in training since Aug. 25, 2009! On June 23, he reports to his first duty station!
I really would love to be there next Friday, but his dad will be there. I will be there in spirit.

Cub survived all of this weeks activities including the 8 mile hike (uphill both ways) LOL. Said this next week will be mostly cleaning and turning in equipment prior to graduation on Friday. Also said he and others that wish to will get to visit with First Lady Michelle Obama this Sunday afternoon at Camp Pendleton. That should be a different experience with secret service everywhere. Congrats to all the corpsman graduating this coming Friday.

Hi M4S, glad your cub is okay and has made it thru training. My cub said the weather was either cold or roasting! I'm going to try and fly out to see the graduation this coming Friday. I'll take as many pics as I'm allowed.

I was just so glad to hear Laurence's voice and that all was ok, I forgot to ask about the eight mile hike. He posted on FB that he was going to work the mud run. He said that this week will be boring. Just turning in gear and paper work.

M4S, If it makes you feel any better, when I was talking to Laurence, I could hear him talking to Steven, and he sounded good. I hope he is doing better!

Mary Alice, M4S is correct. HR is an E-1, which is the same level as SR.

M4s, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Let us know how you're son is doing. It's tough being away from them, especially when they aren't feeling well. Hang in there mom!

I'm flying out tomorrow for this friday's graduation. My son said it started at 9:30am I believe. He said to be there by 8:30am, but I'm planning to get there earlier than that. I haven't confirmed this start time with any other source, so I'm going to try and confirm today. Congratulations on your son's graduation.

Graduation this morning was great! It was the largest FMST class ever to graduate at CP FMTB! I haven't counted the number of grads in the program yet, but it's close to 300. I've got pictures of each of the three platoons lined up that I'll post when I get home Monday. Everyone looked great! I just watched the DVD that my son got and it covers the training very well.

I heard all about the graduation. My daughter and her dad went. I keep bugging her to post some pictures.
Laurence arrived in New Orleans today. He sounded relieved to be out of training and now on to the real work!